Display package for multiple articles



Dec. 5, 1967 M. J. LILLY DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR MULTIPLE ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1966 FlGZ 23 FIG] R 0 WW EL Mu N .T om A M G H ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1967 M. J. LILLY 3,356,210

DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR MULTIPLE ARTICLES Filed Oct. 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MARTW J LlLLf 324 52, wfl,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,356,210 DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR MULTIPLE ARTICLES Martin J. Lilly, Neptune, N1, assignor to Sun Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 587,735 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-78) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises a transparent multiple display package for preformed decorative bows. It employs a relatively stiff backing member and a blister configurated for strength and rigidity. The blister comprises a housing member having a peripheral flange adapted for attachment to the backing member. The flange turns outwardly from the backing member to become a peripheral semiwall, which is generally turned in spaced relation to the backing member to begin defining the individual five compartments. Each compartment comprises substantially parallel walls and is arcuate shaped, extending away from the backing member. The blister common covering forms a relatively flat wall across and intermittent the compartments opposed recess extending from the flat wall to the semi-wall space the compartments apart. This structure resists skewing and normally applies forces effective to pop out dents inadvertently formed therein.

The present invention relates to a packaging container of a type adapted to display multiple items in their normal or unimpaired state.

While the invention has application to the packaging and display of various articles, it will be explained in connection with the packaging of ornamental bows, in a manner to prevent crushing, fraying or disorienting of the loops thereof. The invention is very useful, for example, in connection with the merchandising of the tailored bow, comprising a series of in-line loops of perhaps nine or ten in number, in contiguous relation to provide an arcuate profile. The displaying of such bows, in unimpaired shape, i.e., fully flutfed, is an important object of the invention.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a display package susceptible to extremely inexpensive manufacture while being capable of preserving intact the shape of the packaged articles.

In line with the latter object, the preferred material for the transparent housing is conventional blistering material capable of forming the illustrated structure, which lends the necessary rigidity while comprising the package. Thus, a relatively stifi backing member is preferably employed against which the housing member is set, as by heat sealing, with the packaged articles being interposed respectively in individual compartments thereby produced.

The structure contributing to the strength and defining the compartments comprises the housing member having a peripheral flange which is adapted for attachment to the backing member. The peripheral flange turns outwardly from the backing member to become a peripheral semiwall which is generally in-turned in spaced relation to the backing member to initiate defining of the individual compartments. The latter are made up of substantially parallel walls with a common covering extending continuously across the package and laterally for each compartment, being integral with the compartment side walls. The covering also defines spaced apart recesses separating the compartments one from another with the recesses being disposed in the outer surface between the peripheral wall and the common wall portion of the outer covering.

Moreover, in the particular application employed herein, each compartment covering is generally arcuate, thereby accommodating the arcuate bows and the recesses disposed between the compartments include inner arcuate surfaces offset from and opposed to (oppositely arcuate) the compartment covering. Additional end walls for the package provide hollow spacing between the package edges and the outermost compartments, enabling end denting of the package without damage to the bows. However it is interesting to note that the configuration de scribed normally applies forces effective shortly to pop out dents inadvertently formed therein.

A more important feature resides in the fact that the structure described is virtually skew-proof and diagonal forces applied simply do not deform the packaging assembly. Edge forces normal to the plane of the backing member merely bend the flange and backing member and do not rupture or deform the compartments of the packaging, per se.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of access means via the backing member of a type precluding damage to the ornamental bows. Oppositely disposed, generally U-shaped, perforated outlines extend inwardly comprising the major area of the backing memher, but they are terminated in spaced apart relation with a single perforation line extending therebetween. Arcuate cuts are disposed Within each U-shaped configuration to define pointed ovals of a size enabling the thumb to depress or pull out such a tab in order that the U-shaped configurations may be gripped and torn outwardly, en abling the removal of the bows from the compartments.

Thus, another object of the invention is the provision of such a sturdy display package for multiple articles in expanded or open condition with facilities for ready access thereto.

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description thereof when taken in light of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of the display package of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the back structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the structure of FIG. 1 in end elevation, viewing the left hand end of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a typical article, in the form of an ornamental bow, adapted to be packaged;

FIG. 6 is a view in section through one of the compartments of FIG. 1 as taken along the plane 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the package of FIG. 1, with the articles removed from the compartments, taken along the plane 7-7 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIG. 8 is a lateral view in section across the structure of FIG. 1, taken through the spacing between adjacent compartments, as seen along the plane 88.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the transparent housing member or covering 11 is shown afiixed to a planar backing member 13 of relatively rigid material, such as cardboard or heavy paper. The material of the housing may be of conventional blistering material, such as 10 gauge vinyl.

The housing 11 includes a peripheral flange 15, which is adapted to be heat sealed or otherwise aflixed to backing member 13, with the articles (shown as bow 17 of FIG. 5) in place in the multiple compartments 13, depicted here to be five in number, but, of course, packaging incorporating other numbers of compartments may be constructed in accordance with this invention utilizing the principles hereof.

The structure of housing member 11 includes a peripheral wall 21 (see FIGS. 6 and 8), extending outwardly of planar member 13, and substantially normal thereto.

The wall is in-turned to define longitudinal ridges 23 oriented to be substantially parallel with and spaced from the backing member 13. The longitudinal ridges 23 extend around the end portions of the packages, uprising at 25 and extending laterally at 27 (FIG. 4).

The compartment configuration will next be described, bearing in mind the package depicted is adapted to accommodate arcuate shaped ornamental bow 17, as shown in FIG. or other arcuate articles. This bow is formed of a series of loops 31 of ribbon material connected to a relatively stiff backing member 33, at spaced apart locations 35 in order that the loops 31 lie in contiguous alinement. If these loops were to become warped or twisted or the material thereof frayed or torn, the how would instantly lose its ornamental value.

Thus, the configuration of the compartments is arcuate in section, tapering into a common fiat portion 11' (FIG. 8) in the form of a flat ridge across the front of the package. The compartments each comprise substantially parallel side walls 41, which extend from the peripheral ridge 23 to the common ridge 11. The lower or inner configuration of these walls is arcuate, as shown at 41' in FIG. 8, such that the recesses 43 defined between adjacent walls 41 appear as a childrens playground slide or the like.

However, this structure in conjunction with the common wall and peripheral ridge has been found to maintain the compartments separated, resilient, and crush proof against normal handling.

Since the package is durable, it is diflicult to open the same without utilizing forces sufiicient to damage the ornamental articles housed therein. It is for this reason that the access structure, depicted in FIG. 3, has been incorporated in the backing member 13. Perforations 61 generally extending inwardly in large U-shaped configurations to define two large spaced apart areas 63 with a single perforated line 65 extending therebetween. Tear 0r punch tabs 67 are provided by cut 69 and further perforations 71 extending across the inner ends of the U- shaped configurations to define pointed ovals which accommodate the users thumb in depressing the tear tab 67 in order that the forefinger may reach under cut 69 and remove a first U-shaped area 63. Access is then had to the bows in the compartments to the one side with ready availability across perforated line 65 to the other compartments or alternatively the thumb and forefinger may open both tabs 67, thus enabling both areas 63 to be quickly removed without damage to the bows 17. The package of this invention is adapted to display five differently colored bows 17 on the hangable backing member 13 through use of the aperture 75 while presenting a display area for advertising media on both sides of the aperture 75 on the front of the backing member 13.

As other and further objects and embodiments of the invention will doubtless become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the description wherein presented, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display package for containing and displaying ornamental articles in original shape, comprising in combination, a backing member of relatively stiff material; a housing member for said articles comprising a peripheral fiange adapted for attachment to said backing member; a peripheral semi-wall for lending rigidity to the housing member extending outwardly of the backing member from the peripheral flange; a plurality of individual spacedapart similar compartments defined by substantially parallel walls for each compartment extending beyond said peripheral wall and contiguous therewith; said housing member further comprising a covering for said compartments extending from said peripheral wall across outer surfaces of said compartments and between said compartments; said covering for said compartments extending generally arcuately away from the backing member; said covering comprising a common flat wall across intermediate portions of said compartments and alined portions between said compartments; and said covering further defining a pair of spaced-apart recesses separating said compartments, comprising the opposing walls of adjacent compartments with bottom walls extending between said opposing walls.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said recesses are arcuate in configuration along the bottom walls thereof.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said peripheral wall is substantially of uniform height along the longitudinal dimension of the package and is substantially higher along the end walls thereof, blending arcuately into the compartments disposed outermost.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 190,394 5/1916 Robinson 206-78 D. 190,395 5/1961 Robinson 206-78 3,131,848 5/1964 Floyd 229--51 DONALD E. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. CONDON. Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR CONTAINING AND DISPLAYING ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES IN ORIGINAL SHAPE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A BACKING MEMBER OF RELATIVELY STIFF MATERIAL; A HOUSING MEMBER FOR SAID ARTICLES COMPRISING A PERIPHERAL FLANGE ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID BACKING MEMBER; A PERIPHERAL SEMI-WALL FOR LENDING RIGIDITY TO THE HOUSING MEMBER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF THE BACKING MEMBER FROM THE PERIPHERAL FLANGE; A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SPACEDAPART SIMILAR COMPARTMENTS DEFINED BY SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WALLS FOR EACH COMPARTMENT EXTENDING BEYOND SAID PERIPHERAL WALL AND CONTIGUOUS THEREWITH; SAID HOUSING MEMBER FURTHER COMPRISING A COVERING FOR SAID COMPART MENTS EXTENDING FROM SAID PERIPHERAL WALL ACROSS OUTER SURFACES OF SAID COMPRTMENTS AND BETWEEN SAID COMPARTMENTS; SAID COVERING FOR SAID COMPARTMENTS EXTENDIN GENERALLY ARCUATELY AWAY FROM THE BACKING MEMBER; SAID COVERING COMPRISING A COMMON FLAT WALL ACROSS INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF SAID COMPARTMENTS AND ALINED PORTIONS BETWEEN SAID COMPRTMENTS; AND SAID COVERING FURTHER DEFINING A PAIR OF SPACED-APART RECESSES SEPARATING SAID COMPARTMENTS, COMPRISING THE OPPOSING WALLS OF ADJACENT COMPARTMENTS WITH BOTTOM WALLS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID OPPOSING WALLS. 